Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2006-07: Hodgson had a strong rookie year for the Battalion. He led all Battalion rookies in goals (23), assists (23), and points (46). He was also a force on the power play, finishing second on he team with 15 power-play goals. Hodgson had a strong post-season as well. In four games, Hodgson had four points (one goal, three assists).

2007-08: Hodgson has emerged as a top prospect for the upcoming NHL draft. Hodgson has raced past his point and goal totals from last season. He is in the top five in the OHL in goals, and the top 15 in the OHL in points. He led the Battalion in goals and finished second on the team in points Hodgson was named to the Eastern Conference squad in the 2008 OHL All-Star Classic.2008-09: Hodgson made his pro debut with Manitoba in the AHL playoffs as a 19-year-old after a monster year in his second OHL season with the Brampton Battalion. He led all scorers with 16 points playing for Team Canada at the 2009 U20 World Junior Championship. In eleven playoff games with the Moose he scored 2 goals with 4 assists and was +4 with 4 PMs. Hodgson was named CHL Player of the Year after scoring 43 goals with 49 assists and finishing +41 with 33 PMs in 53 games for Brampton. The Battalion finished first in the Central Division and had the OHL’s fourth-best record before advancing to the playoff finals. In 21 OHL playoff games Hodgson scored 11 goals with 20 assists and was +10 with 18 PMs. In six games at the WJC he scored 5 goals with 11 assists and was +8 with 2 PMs. Canada defeated Sweden, 5-1, in the gold medal game.2009-10: Hodgson missed much of the season due to a back injury suffered in pre-season and did not play his first game until early February. In 13 regular season games with Brampton (OHL) he scored 8 goals with 12 assists and was +6 with 9 PMs. He played in five playoff games for the Battalion before re-aggravating his back injury. He scored 5 goals and was +2 with 2 PMs.2010-11: Hodgson made his NHL debut with Vancouver in February 2011, appearing in eight games, and played in 12 playoff games for the Canucks during their run to the Stanley Cup finals. He scored 1 goal with 1 assist and was +1; averaging just under eight minutes of ice time during the regular season. He had 1 assist and was -4 with 12 shots on goal in a limited role during the playoffs. Hodgson spent the bulk of his first pro season with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose. He was third on the team with 17 goals and had 13 assists with a -12 plus/minus and 14 PMs in 52 games.

2011-12: In his rookie NHL season, Hodgson would get traded to the Buffalo Sabres on the February 27th trade deadline, in exchange for winger Zack Kassian.

Talent Analysis

Hodgson is a solid all around talent. He does not possess blinding speed, or flashy moves, but he tends to get the job done. He has developed into a fine two-way player. Hodgson is an extremely smart player who uses all of his skills in both ends of the ice. Excellent skater, very strong on the puck, can quarterback the powerplay. Hodson has very good hands and excellent on ice-vision.

Future

He has first-line talent but has been injured, and could be problematic to sign.

Photo: Prab Rai, the Canucks' fifth round pick in 2008, has been limited by injury to just 31 ECHL games through three seasons thus far in his pro career. (courtesy of Kathleen Hinkel/Icon SMI)

Two players from the Vancouver Canucks 2008 NHL Draft remain in the system, defenseman Yann Sauve and center Prab Rai. Of the two, Sauve is the only one to get a taste of NHL hockey action, with a five game call-up in 2010. Perhaps one of the more prolific and discussed players drafted by the Canucks, Cody Hodgson’s arrival in 2008 provided local sports pages with material aplenty. Just as some drafts bring hope and anticipation, Vancouver's 2008 draft brought drama and intrigue, culminating in one of the biggest and most shocking trades in the NHL during the 2011-12 season.

Photo: Mark Pysyk is one of several talented defensive prospects the Buffalo Sabres have at the AHL level. (Abelimages/Getty Images)

The Buffalo Sabres' AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans, are one of the biggest beneficiaries of the NHL lockout. Though Cody Hodgson, Marcus Foligno, Brayden McNabb, and T.J. Brennan have, for the most part, been pillars for head coach Ron Rolston, the Amerks are currently sitting just out of playoff position. Hurting the Amerks is overall consistency and a lack of quality depth up front.

Photo: Defenseman Brayden McNabb (81) is one of several Buffalo Sabres prospects who would be competing for a spot in the NHL right now if not for the ongoing lockout. (Bill Streicher/Icon SMI)

The Buffalo Sabres have traditionally taken the long and steady approach to developing their projects, giving their prospects as much time as needed to develop into an NHL player. That patience has paid off, with many players drafted in the past five years making contributions at the NHL level last year, and are ready to this year, if or when the NHL lockout ends. Corey Tropp, Luke Adam, Brayden McNabb, Marcus Foligno, and a few others are among those who have proven that they can play in the NHL.